Notes and Quotes for Antigone Background Information
Who is Sophocles?
Greek playwright with over 100 tragedies
First to use painted sets
Competed in the Festival of Dionysus which was large competition of theatrical performances for a prize of a goat
All tragedies taught a moral or lesson
What is the function of the Choragos and the Chorus in Greek theatre?
15 Men chanted lyric poetry wearing robes and blank masks (see image at right)
Voice of reason in the play telling what should we viewers be thinking about and also explain events
Ask and or answer questions
Advice central characters
Performing was a civic duty of greek men
Strophe is move from right to left
Antistrophe is move from left to right
Some more vocabulary
Ode: A song of praise
Parados: Enter chorus
Paean (Pee-in): Song of praise or celebration
Choragos: Chorus leader, just under the king- a very high honor in greek society
Aristotle's Important Elements to Tragedy from The Poetics
Argues for reversal of fortune (peripetia)
Always have a moment of recognition of the hero's fatal flaw (anagnorsis)
Mimesis: tragedies are imitations of life
The Story
Prologue
Antigone wants to bury and honor Polyneices against the rules and wishes of the new king Creon
"He is my brother. And he is your brother too"
Ismene resists Antigone saying laws should be followed and that she will be punished by death if the honors him
"Impossible things should not be tried at all"
In order to make it to afterlife, Polyneices must be buried with just a few drops of water
The Odes
Celebrates mankind's accomplishments and saws men should follow the laws, whether man agrees or not
"numberless are the world's wonders"
"when the laws are kept, how proudly his city stands!"
Oedipus' line cursed to take path deaf to reason of selfishness
"compulsive rage" <-- "the curse of heaven"
"I have seen this gathering sorrow from long past" Been cursed since the beggining
"a passionate word [Antigone] and a handful of dust have closed up all it's [Oedipus's line] beauty"
As fate commands, What brings you pleasure will ultimately destroy you "man's little pleasure is the spring of sorrow"
Love can burn people- love destroys Haimonds relations with creon and creon's love of power makes him deaf to reason. Antigone's love for her late brother makes her deaf to reason
"love, unconquerable ... waster of rich men ... keeper of warm lights"
Just lists other people who have died by the god
Antigone
She is religious and willing to do what the Gods say is right no matter the consequences
"I say this crime is holy"
Manipulative attacking Ismene by accusing her...
Of not loving their brother (Polyneices) "that must be your excuse. I will bury the brother I love"
Saying she'll be hated for her knowledge of Antigone's actions "Tell everyone! Think how they'll hate you"
Loyalty to the Gods "Laws of the Gods mean nothing to you [Ismene]"
Fiery and loud... Statements with exclamation points. Provocative
It [Creon's proclamation] was public. Could I not help hearing it""
Does not put enormous value on own life after her mother, father, and brothers' deaths
"our two brothers died ... we are left"
"Living as I live, with evil all about me, think death less than a friend?" Her loss turned her deaf to reason perhaps
Irrational
Charagos says she is "Deaf to reason!" and she "never learned to yield"
Does she want all the glory for herself or love her sister?
Tells Ismane, "there are those who will praise you, I shall have honor too" "Yes, save yourself. I shall not envy you"
Tragic hero perhaps recognizes her fatal flaw in the end?
"I have not sinned before God. Or if I have" Perhaps recognition here... but then she also blames creon
"but if the guilt lies upon creon ... may his punishment equal my own"
Commits suicide in the end
Ismene
Respects the laws of men above the gods
"The law is strong ... we must give in to the laws"
"we are only women, we cannot fight with men"
Explains herself through reason and compassion in contrast to Antigone's methods of manipulation
"I am so afraid for you" Fears punishment for Antigone's plans
Antigone is the last family member she has left... She can't bear to lose her: "our two brothers died ... we are left"
"I want to die with you"
"What do I care for in life when you [Antigone] are dead?"
Tells Creon "grief teaches the steadies minds to waver"
Parados
Celebrates victory in battle
"The beautiful morning of victory ... many chariots sing for joy!"
Creon
Choragos ask three questions about creon out of confusion
Even Thebe's voice of reason cannot understand the new King's actions
"why has he summoned the old men to hear him"
He is a weak king who is insecure and needs to explain himself to his people
"no Ruler can expect complete loyalty"
"these are my principles"
Can't even think of punishment for first lawbreaker
"there will be certain ways ... do you understand?"
He is afraid the old men wont listen to him and yield to the new law against burying Polyneices
"money talks, and the wisest have sometimes been known to count a few coins too many"
He also knows the rule is potentially controversial
Reverts to insulting them "you doddering wrecks"
Messenger Sentry comes and interrupts the king and just walks away free from his anger- almost seems dominant
"you have seen the last of me"
Even flat out questions Creon "sure that it is my vote, and not your consciousness?"
Tyrant, Moody, Unpredictable, Insecure in his position of power and just wants to be obyed
"jumps to blame Ismene for no reason "she and her sister"
"My voice is the one voice giving orders in this City!"
Doesn't care for son's desires- only to be obeyed "but your own son's bride!"
"Gone, gone. Creon, a young man in a rage is dangerous!" Choragos's response to creon threatening his son
Initially does not want to kill Antigone
"had you heard my proclamation?"
Hates polynices with whole heart because he killed his son
"if your birds - if the great eagles of God himself should cary him stinking bit by bit to heaven, I would not yield" Lives by the heart not by logic, reason, and laws of gods
FINALLY LISTENS TO REASON AND RECOGNIZES FATAL FLAW
He did listen to haimond... but another example of him changing his mine "No, I will not kill the one who's hand are clean"
"I will carry her [Antigone] far away" He figures if the gods are on her side as Haimond says then he can't kill her anyway
"Oh it is hard to give in! But it is worse to risk everything for stubborn pride" The tragicc hero who is admitting his flaw and changing
"It is hard to deny the heart! But i Will do it: I will not fight with destiny."
Will go build a tomb for Polyneices despite his hate "I will go ... the laws of the gods are mighty"
"I was the fool, not you; and you [Hiamond] died for me."
Begs for punishment in the end "has no one a blow for me" His dead son is his punishment
Haimon
Son of Creon and Engaged to Antigone
"last of all your [creon's] sons"
Tells father exactly what he wants to hear. What does he want?
"no marriage means more to me than you continuing wisdom"
He knows this is the only way to get him to listen- uses same strategy below
Tries to help creon by telling him of his mistake and begs him to think otherwise
"Reason is God's crowing gift to man ... you have reasoned badly"
"this is the way they talk out there" Knows if creon thinks his own son was against him things would turn south
Emphasizes "nothing is more important to me than your happiness"
Creon acuses him that "everything you say is for her! [Antigone] but he clarifies "and for you. and for me. and for the gods"
"Do not be unchangeable" "stubborn trees are torn up, roots and all"
Accidentally threatens his father
"her death will cause another"
Relations collapse altogether from here "she will not die here, King. And you will never see my face again."
"Gone, gone. Creon, a young man in a rage is dangerous!"
Says that Thebes "is no City if it takes orders from one voice."
So angry at creon that he first lunges at him with the blade but then realizes the best way to get to creon: suicide, a HUGE no no in greek society
Our anger for others burns only yourself
Haimond's anger literally consumed himself, Creon's anger burned him through haimond's death, Antigone's anger consumed her
"And now he lies dead with the dead, and she is his at last, his bride in the houses of the dead"
Eurydice
Queen wife of Creon and mother of Haimond
She has lost and was mourning thier dead son "unlocking the gate of pallas shrine" "grief and I are no strangers"
Messenger tells her "comfort could lie only in what is not true"
When she hears the news of antigone and haimond's suicide, she leaves without a word
Kills herself
Questions?
How do we feel about our laws?
Choragos says "reverence is a virtue, but strength lives in established law: that must prevail"
How do we feel about leaders?
How should a leader balance individual feelings (tyrant) and the good of society as a whole?
Do our leaders bother to correct their wrongs and admit mistakes?
Yielding to Reason
Creon: Doesn't care for son's desires- only to be obeyed "but your own son's bride!"
"grief teaches the steadies minds to waver" Ismene explains why Antigone is deaf to reason and perhaps why creon is also deaf to reason
"Do not be unchangeable" "stubborn trees are torn up, roots and all" Haimond begs
"Oh it is hard to give in! but it is worse To risk everything for stubborn pride" Creon says
"The only crime is pride" "be able to yield for your own good" says Teiresias 232
"It is hard to deny the heart! But i Will do it: I will not fight with destiny." says creon
"There is no happiness where there is no wisdom; No wisdom but in submission to the gods. Big words are always punished, And proud men in old age learn to be wise."
Background Information
Who is Sophocles?
What is the function of the Choragos and the Chorus in Greek theatre?
Some more vocabulary
Aristotle's Important Elements to Tragedy from The Poetics
The Story
Prologue
The Odes
Antigone
Ismene
Parados
Creon
Haimon
Eurydice
Questions?
Yielding to Reason
"There is no happiness where there is no wisdom; No wisdom but in submission to the gods. Big words are always punished, And proud men in old age learn to be wise."